The Art of Working from Home

Thirteen years ago I made a leap of faith and became self-employed. I wanted more time to raise my young children and still make my monthly mortgage payment, so I used my 20 years in Human Resources and focused on running a recruitment firm out of my home office. At first it was challenging to find the right balance between managing the growth of my business and staying actively involved in the care of my family.  But as a professional working mom, I quickly created work routines and habits to keep focused. Given many of you are now telecommuting, I thought I would share some productivity tips which may help as you work from home.

1.      Get up in the morning, brush your teeth and get going. I take care of myself first.  I get up at 5 a.m. while the rest of my family is still in bed and I get a workout in. Whether it’s at the gym (this is not an option where I live presently, as gyms have been ordered closed), or via a video workout, home fitness equipment or a walk/jog with a friend, I get some exercise in.  No matter what happens for the rest of the day, my mind is clear as I begin thanks to the work out.

2.      Adjust your mindset. If you do not regularly work from home, you may need to adjust your mindset. We have a different set of interactions and responsibilities when we are at home: significant others, children, pets, and household duties. But when you telecommute, you are reporting to work – it’s just the location has changed. So it may initially take effort to purposefully change behaviors, routines and thinking and turn the focus to work.   

3.      Turn off the TV! Given our crazy times, it’s tempting to monitor the news all day. Don’t! Get focused! Stay away from the blaring distractions. I am fortunate to have a dedicated office in my home where I can separate myself from diversions. Make sure you establish a dedicated work space in your home as well. When you are in that space, you are working! And it does not have to be a large space: I have a dear friend who is a telecommuter and when she visits she sets up her work space at my kitchen table.  It’s her office for the day.  When she is at the kitchen table, we understand she is working and avoid interrupting or distracting her.  

4.      Get organized. Make your plan and work it. Things are slowing down on the hiring front but employee relations issues are increasing. Plan out your day, make your to do lists and be productive. Setting and sticking to schedules is important at the office, and it is mandatory when you are working from home.  

5.      Prioritize.  Again, this point is no different than it is at the office, but it is more important at home. Regardless of how hard we try, most people are less efficient when working from home (at least initially), so identifying and prioritizing the most crucial actions for your business is essential. What activities will garner the greatest results for your company?  Avoid activities or time wasters that won’t help your business grow or flourish. 

6.      Make time to be social.  As a professional recruiter, I am often on the phone talking to employers and candidates. But because a home office can be more isolating than a traditional office setting, I plan time to be social with colleagues and friends. I use email, texting, internet and social media to reach people both personally and professionally.  It provides the comradery and chance to collaborate which I enjoy. Use Skype, Facetime (my daughter just showed me how to two-way Facetime – its genius!), whatever virtual medium you like to get your interaction fix over the course of day. 

These tips may seem basic however creating the mental discipline to effectively work from home takes practice. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you fall off the bike, just get back on and keep on going! These are challenging times we are facing especially with everyone at home. Work life balance is an art form, but with practical and focused application, you will be successful!  

Good luck, be kind and be well.